Date: 28 November 2007

Workshop title: “Conservation Medicine of Marine Mammals”

Workshop outline:
Conservation medicine is an increasingly interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between human and animal health, and environmental conditions. In particular the environmental causes of health problems are complex, global, and poorly understood. Outbreaks in the last few years such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the recent bird-flu pandemic illustrate the need to document and understand these diseases for the benefit of both humans and animals. Researchers are learning more about these pandemics in the terrestrial environment, but due to the migratory nature of many marine species, such events are difficult to understand in the marine environment. As a result there is still little documentation on diseases of wild marine mammals and potential overlap with those from other marine animals. However, such disease events in marine systems appear on the increase in recent years, possibly as a result of rising sea temperatures. This workshop aims at information exchange between researchers, gathering existing knowledge on diseases in marine mammals, and identifying the areas where future research efforts need to concentrate.

Workshop format: Morning of invited presentations and afternoon of discussion
Fee: $30 USD

CALL FOR PAPERS: Participants and additional interested parties are asked to submit abstracts (no more than 200 words) outlining their proposed contribution to Stephanie Plön (see contact details below)
DEADLINE: 20 June

Contact details:

Stephanie Plön

Port Elizabeth Museum & Oceanarium/ Bayworld

Humewood

P. O. Box 13147

Port Elizabeth

6013

SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27-41-5840650

Fax: +27-41-5840661

E-mail: stephanie@bayworld.co.za